Martyn Lawrence Bullard on OKL

If you watched Million Dollar Decorators last night you would have seen Martyn Lawrence Bullard shopping in London for this One King's Lane sale.

I vaguely wondered when it might be and assumed that things might be grossly overpriced.

Well it was today (last check only four items remaining) and a great many things were priced very attractively, in my opinion.

Usually eBay prices are far lower than OKL's and I intended to do a similar price comparison but since most of the OKL items are sold here are a few similars I found on eBay.

The table on OKL (top) was listed at $999 this one is $499 on eBay HERE

This MLB pick (above) went for $1499.

 

This similar desk is a Buy it Now sale for $1400 HERE

This inkwell was a rather steep $599 on OKL

but

a remarkably similar (though not as well photographed) piece is $115 from an eBay seller that is willing to negotiate. HERE

There were several fetching antique prints that would round out the "inherited look" as Martyn refers to it.

The one above was $299 and this is where you can really get original, antique art for less by using eBay.

This one is priced at just under $25 HERE

just needs a frame.

A few tips for buying these (or anything) on eBay are to find a seller with a high rating and make sure you understand the shipping costs. When it comes to prints like these the listing should always say whether it is an original or reproduction. I only buy originals and it is, hands down, the cheapest way to buy original art.

If you bought any of Martyn's things on OKL or grabbed a similar item on eBay tell me about it.

Putting lipstick on a pig

Not exactly lipstick on not exactly a pig, but this dresser that serves as the TV console is not my ideal piece of furniture.

It is a hand-me-down from my grandfather who knew enough to keep it hidden in a walk-in closet, although, these photos make it look worse than it really is. It is highly functional for us so it stays for the moment.

Last week I found these little brass ring pulls online and thought they might help that dowdy dresser.

It wasn't quite the impact I was going for but I think it is an improvement over the wooden knobs.

This $30 update made a much better "pig".

Have you ever updated with new hardware? Was it a let down or really fabulous?

Thumbs up OR down?

Whaddya think?

This is the new painting above my mantel in the family room.

It replaced this painting of a little girl done my my grandmother and hated by my husband and children.

I was after the mood of this painting (below), not the room. Can't remember the photo credit, so if you know help me out.

 Again, what do you think?

Trends-picking & choosing

In choosing things to fill my own house, I often consider trendy items.

Slipcovers were on my radar for a comfortable family room. I do own the Ikea slipped loveseat and find it terribly uncomfortable but more importantly it got marked too easily. My family isn't that filthy but a small child holding a crayon can make you wish you did not have anything white.

I need to replace a viciously ugly light fixture in the kitchen eating area. I considered an oversized lantern but I don't like them enough.

Which leads me to my method for shuffling through trends...

I ask "Would I buy this if it were not a trend?" and the answer dictates the purchase.

If it is ultimately not pleasing to me (like that kitchen and its delicious floor) the result is something that does not say anything about me.

An authentic interior is what we are all after, right?

A grand birthday and decorating progress!

My less than stellar attempt at Sachertorte

Yesterday was my 43rd birthday and it was great, the cake notwithstanding.

I slept in and woke up to these lovely roses and other yummy breakfast treats.

In the afternoon, I made a Viennese Sachertorte that was not so great. I am usually good at patisserie but this was a bit of a flop so I went antique shopping.

I had been thinking about a blanc de Chine piece I saw and wanted to see if it was still there.

It was but did not live up to my memory of it, besides, it was next to this fabulous (but not antique) pagoda jar.

 I scooped it up and found a wedding present for my Uncle too.

At home there was...

Moet et Chandon in Baccarat with Suisse fondue for dinner.

During all that birthday fun the FedEx man rang with my drapes for the family room.

They'll be hung behind this newly reupholstered sofa when the rods arrive. 

I have not yet hung the bamboo shades that will go on the windows under the drapes.

I have managed the addition of a vintage, kid-proof club chair and two end tables. The marble top Saarinen style is my favorite.

I left the bee, the fingerprints, and the very wrinkled coasters in this shot of the vintage side table because this is a casual room that I must share with my little one. I have other rooms that are for grown -ups.

Chinoiserie score!

I came across this Brunschwig and Fils fabric on eBay a few weeks ago while searching for "Le Lac"  to make a few throw pillows. There were basically scraps totaling a bit over two yards and for $20 I got high end fabric. I was planning to use it for a valance in my kitchen.

When it arrived my heart sunk as it really fought with the nearby curtain..

I looked at the fabric again and realized that the ivory silk stripe that I was planning on buying to recover these dining chairs would no longer be needed.

 I also scored these six pristine, vintage Henckel-Harris dining chairs for $700.

There are two smallish vignettes on the fabric and I have enough for three of each on chairs and will get a few pillows made for the living room from the remainder.

I even managed to knock out a few 4" x 4" coasters out of this too. If that's not a $20 deal I don't know what is!

In plain view

I realize that my lifestyle is not for everyone, but if you really want to avoid kid clutter this is a great option.

I have lived through a sea of toys with broken and misplaced parts. I have found puzzle pieces in my kitchen and doll heads in my bathroom along with a multitude of messes that I hated. This was how my over indulged, first two children experienced toys.

Fast forward 15 years...

My two year-old daughter has a more Spartan collection of toys contained almost entirely in these bins.

Two contain books, one blocks, one Playmobil sets, and the others are a jumble. She is very content with the number of toys and I don't think I would be doing her a service by having too many.

I love these bins. They are about $5 at Target and other stores and sturdy as far as I can tell. While I am not thrilled with the color combination of the bins in this new house, they keep things tidy with only the tiniest effort and keep toys from becoming a numbing pile of stuff. The kind of "can't see the trees for the forest" sort of mess.

Only the "beehicle" and tiny chair remain in view when everything is put away but can be stashed elsewhere quickly if I wish.

I hope this method works in the long term because we have kept her bedroom mostly toy free. With two twin beds there is precious little floor space and a few things are stashed in her closet but it one less mess to pickup.